Welcome Mrs. Olson's American Government students. This is the home page for our class wiki. You will be finding all of the information you will need for our class, including notes and assignments, here. This class fulfills your one semester of American Government requirement for graduation.
Course Description: This course provides an overview of American government and politics. Instruction focuses on the political beliefs and behavior of the United States Government and its people with particular emphasis placed on the governmental structures and the duties and responsibilities of the people at the local, state, and national levels of government. Students are expected to complete individual and collaborative assignments/projects.
Course Goals: Upon completion of this class, students will:
1. Identify and Comprehend the U.S. constitutional foundations.
2. Recognize and Evaluate U.S. political beliefs and behaviors.
3. Understand how U.S. political parties, interest groups, and mass media operate.
4. Know the important institutions of the national government.
5. Synthesize public policy.
6. Examine and Understand U.S. civil rights and civil liberties.
Expectations: Students are expected to:
1. Be prepared for class everyday. Bring your book, notebook, pen/pencil, and all other
required materials to class.
2. Be an active participant in class. Join in class discussions and be a productive member
in group assignments.
3. Complete all class assignments when assigned. Remember this is a required class. The
surest way to find yourself in academic trouble in this class is to not do your homework.
4. Treat peers and instructor with respect.
Engage in appropriate academic classroom behavior (e.g., arrive on time, prepared to take notes, discuss homework, participate in activities, etc.)
Keep an open mind and take the class seriously. If you come to class with a willingness to explore new ideas and question unexamined beliefs you will find the study of American Government very rewarding.
Respect your peers when participating in class discussions. Listen courteously to the ideas of others.
5. Do your own work. Cheating will not be tolerated. You are expected to do your own work to
the best of your ability.
Mrs. Olson’s Availability
I am here in the morning by 7:30 am. The only morning I am not available is on Wednesdays about twice a month as I have meetings on that morning.
I am usually available any day after school.
Please do not hesitate to talk to me if you have any question or problem. I am here to help you be successful in this class.
Attendance, Homework, and Make-up Work Policies:
Attendance is mandatory and will be taken on a daily basis through the school program. Regular attendance is essential to your success in this class. I will be strictly following the schools guide lines and practices in regards to attendance.
Homework is an integral part of your educational career. Homework assignments will help to reinforce skills taught in the classroom and help you to develop responsibility and gain mastery of course content. Homework will be a regular and active part of your learning and is essential to this course, so you should incorporate helpful strategies into your daily study routine, like using your planner, to help you be successful with homework.
All assignments will be posted on the class wiki. Remember if you are absent it is your responsibility to check the wiki. If I have handed something out in class it is your responsibility to see me in order to get the materials. All assignments should be completed to satisfy the due date. Work handed in late will be accepted but with a reduction of points. Please see the new grading policies adopted posted in your handbook.
Exams: Tests and exams are an integral part of your learning; they essentially gauge what you know in terms of course content, concepts, and skills. It is critical that students use good study techniques and strategies when preparing for an exam so that they can appropriately and effectively demonstrate to the teacher what they know or understand. It is mandatory that all students pass the course with at least a D- to receive credit for the class.
Grading: Grades will reflect the measurable achievement of you as a student. There are several categories for grades given in this class. Grades are calculated on a total point scale. The scale is as follows:
Assignments: Tests will be a combination of multiple choice, image analysis, short answer, and essay, and are structured college exams. They will be challenging and will cover considerable amounts of material. Each test will cover several chapters. This will make personal organization and disciplined study all the more important. There will be assigned a variety of written assignments throughout the year. The purpose of these is always to make you dig deeper and prepare you for exams.
Besides written assignments, students will be assigned a considerable amount of reading. Studying American Government requires that one read. We cannot begin to cover in class what students are required to know. If you do not read the material, then you will find it hard to learn the necessary content and concepts and you will find it hard to pass the class. The bottom line is that you must take responsibility for reading the material for this class if you are to experience success. Plagiarism: To plagiarize is to present someone else’s work as your own. To present someone else’s work as your own means to use someone else’s information, ideas, and/or writing without explicitly acknowledging with quotation marks and/or citations that the ideas and writing are not your own. You may be plagiarizing even if you are not directly quoting. Plagiarism is a serious offense and I will give a 0 to any assignment in which a student plagiarizes. Of course it is important to be using others’ ideas and information, but you must provide credit where credit is due. If you have ANY questions or confusions about plagiarism, please let me know before you turn in your work.
Class Schedule
Date Topic Reading
Week 1 Principles of Government Chp. 1 Themes__:
Government & State
Forms of Government
Basic Concepts of Democracy
Week 2 The Constitution Chp. 3 Themes:
Six basic principles
Formal Amendments
Week 3 Federalism Chp. 4 Themes:
Division of Power
Interstate Relations
Week 4,5 Political Parties Chp. 5 Themes:
Two Party System
Minor Parties
Party Organization
Week 6 Voters and Voter Behavior Chp. 6 Themes:
Rights of Voters
Voter Qualifications
Suffrage & Civil Rights
Week 7 Electoral Process Chp. 7 Themes:
Nomination Process
Elections
Electoral Finance
Week 8 Mass Media & Public Opinion Chp. 8 Themes:
Formation of Public Opinion
Measurement of Public Opinion
Mass Media in Politics
Week 12 Interest Groups Chp. 9 Themes:
Nature of Interest Groups
Week 13 - 14 Congress Chp. 10 Themes:
National Legislature
House of Reps.
Senate
Week 15 – 16 Powers of Congress Chp. 11 Themes:
Expressed Powers
Implied Powers
Non-legislative Powers
Money & Commerce
Week 16 -17 Congress in Action Chp. 12 Themes:
Congress Organization
Congressional Committees
Turning Bills into Law
Week 18 Finals
Week 19 – 20 The Presidency Chp. 13 Themes:
Duties & Responsibilities
Succession
Framer’s Plan
Nomination & Election
Week 21 – 22 Presidency in Action Chp. 14 Themes:
Growth of Presidential Power
Executive Powers
Diplomatic & Military Powers
Legislative & Judicial Powers
Week 23 – 24 The Bureaucracy Chp. 15 Themes:
Executive Departments
Independent Agencies
Civil Services
Week 25 Financing Government Chp. 16 Themes:
Taxes
Revenue & Barrowing
Spending & Budget
Week 26 Foreign Policy & National Defense Chp. 17 Themes:
Foreign Affairs
Defense Agencies
Foreign Aide & Alliances
Week 27 Federal Courts Chp. 18 Themes:
National Judiciary
Inferior Courts
Supreme Courts
Week 28 Civil Liberties Chp. 19 Themes:
Unalienable Rights
Week 29 – 30 Protecting Individual Rights Chp. 20 Themes:
Due Process
Punishments
Week 31 Equal Justice under Law Chp. 21 Themes:
Equality before the Law
Federal Civil Rights
American Citizenship
Week 32 - 33 Comparative Political Systems Chp. 22 Themes:
Differing Governmental Systems
America’s political system in the world
Separation of Powers
Types of Governments
Week 34 Comparative Economic Systems Chp. 23 Themes:
Capitalism
Socialism
Communism
Week 35 Governing by the States Chp. 24 & 25 Themes:
State Constitutions
State Legislatures
Governor & State Administration
Week 36 Finals Conclusion: Finally, if you have a question or concern regarding the class, projects, readings, assignments, or absences, it is up to you to ask. You are ultimately responsible for your own learning!
*The Timeline, activities, assignments, and syllabus are subject to revision by the Instructor*
Home
Welcome Mrs. Olson's American Government students. This is the home page for our class wiki. You will be finding all of the information you will need for our class, including notes and assignments, here. This class fulfills your one semester of American Government requirement for graduation.
Course Materials
American Government Syllabus
American Government Syllabus
Instructor: Laurie Olson
School: Peoria Notre Dame High School
Room W-03
E-Mail: l.olson@pndhs.org
Class Wiki NDAmGovt.wikispaces.com
Course Description: This course provides an overview of American government and politics. Instruction focuses on the political beliefs and behavior of the United States Government and its people with particular emphasis placed on the governmental structures and the duties and responsibilities of the people at the local, state, and national levels of government. Students are expected to complete individual and collaborative assignments/projects.
Course Goals: Upon completion of this class, students will:
1. Identify and Comprehend the U.S. constitutional foundations.
2. Recognize and Evaluate U.S. political beliefs and behaviors.
3. Understand how U.S. political parties, interest groups, and mass media operate.
4. Know the important institutions of the national government.
5. Synthesize public policy.
6. Examine and Understand U.S. civil rights and civil liberties.
Expectations: Students are expected to:
1. Be prepared for class everyday. Bring your book, notebook, pen/pencil, and all other
required materials to class.
2. Be an active participant in class. Join in class discussions and be a productive member
in group assignments.
3. Complete all class assignments when assigned. Remember this is a required class. The
surest way to find yourself in academic trouble in this class is to not do your homework.
4. Treat peers and instructor with respect.
- Engage in appropriate academic classroom behavior (e.g., arrive on time, prepared to take notes, discuss homework, participate in activities, etc.)
- Keep an open mind and take the class seriously. If you come to class with a willingness to explore new ideas and question unexamined beliefs you will find the study of American Government very rewarding.
- Respect your peers when participating in class discussions. Listen courteously to the ideas of others.
5. Do your own work. Cheating will not be tolerated. You are expected to do your own work tothe best of your ability.
Mrs. Olson’s Availability
Attendance, Homework, and Make-up Work Policies:
Exams: Tests and exams are an integral part of your learning; they essentially gauge what you know in terms of course content, concepts, and skills. It is critical that students use good study techniques and strategies when preparing for an exam so that they can appropriately and effectively demonstrate to the teacher what they know or understand. It is mandatory that all students pass the course with at least a D- to receive credit for the class.
Grading: Grades will reflect the measurable achievement of you as a student. There are several categories for grades given in this class. Grades are calculated on a total point scale. The scale is as follows:
Scale
A+ 100 – 98
A 97 – 95
A- 94 – 93
B+ 92 – 90
B 89 – 87
B- 86 – 85
C+ 84 – 82
C 81 – 79
C- 78 – 77
D+ 76 – 75
D 74 – 72
D- 71 – 70
F 69 – 0
Assignments: Tests will be a combination of multiple choice, image analysis, short answer, and essay, and are structured college exams. They will be challenging and will cover considerable amounts of material. Each test will cover several chapters. This will make personal organization and disciplined study all the more important. There will be assigned a variety of written assignments throughout the year. The purpose of these is always to make you dig deeper and prepare you for exams.
Besides written assignments, students will be assigned a considerable amount of reading. Studying American Government requires that one read. We cannot begin to cover in class what students are required to know. If you do not read the material, then you will find it hard to learn the necessary content and concepts and you will find it hard to pass the class. The bottom line is that you must take responsibility for reading the material for this class if you are to experience success.
Plagiarism: To plagiarize is to present someone else’s work as your own. To present someone else’s work as your own means to use someone else’s information, ideas, and/or writing without explicitly acknowledging with quotation marks and/or citations that the ideas and writing are not your own. You may be plagiarizing even if you are not directly quoting. Plagiarism is a serious offense and I will give a 0 to any assignment in which a student plagiarizes. Of course it is important to be using others’ ideas and information, but you must provide credit where credit is due. If you have ANY questions or confusions about plagiarism, please let me know before you turn in your work.
Class Schedule
Date Topic Reading
Week 1 Principles of Government Chp. 1
Themes__:
Week 2 The Constitution Chp. 3
Themes:
Week 3 Federalism Chp. 4
Themes:
Week 4,5 Political Parties Chp. 5
Themes:
Week 6 Voters and Voter Behavior Chp. 6
Themes:
Week 7 Electoral Process Chp. 7
Themes:
Week 8 Mass Media & Public Opinion Chp. 8
Themes:
Week 12 Interest Groups Chp. 9
Themes:
Week 13 - 14 Congress Chp. 10
Themes:
Week 15 – 16 Powers of Congress Chp. 11
Themes:
Week 16 -17 Congress in Action Chp. 12
Themes:
Week 18 Finals
Week 19 – 20 The Presidency Chp. 13
Themes:
Week 21 – 22 Presidency in Action Chp. 14
Themes:
Week 23 – 24 The Bureaucracy Chp. 15
Themes:
Week 25 Financing Government Chp. 16
Themes:
Week 26 Foreign Policy & National Defense Chp. 17
Themes:
Week 27 Federal Courts Chp. 18
Themes:
Week 28 Civil Liberties Chp. 19
Themes:
Week 29 – 30 Protecting Individual Rights Chp. 20
Themes:
Week 31 Equal Justice under Law Chp. 21
Themes:
Week 32 - 33 Comparative Political Systems Chp. 22
Themes:
Week 34 Comparative Economic Systems Chp. 23
Themes:
Week 35 Governing by the States Chp. 24 & 25
Themes:
Week 36 Finals
Conclusion: Finally, if you have a question or concern regarding the class, projects, readings, assignments, or absences, it is up to you to ask. You are ultimately responsible for your own learning!
*The Timeline, activities, assignments, and syllabus are subject to revision by the Instructor*